David W. answered • 06/18/15
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The teaching-learning activity has three areas of focus: (a) subject, (b) student, and (c) style.
The author must consider all three, and establish the desired level of balance for the essay.
An expository essay has more focus on the subject matter -- it organization, impact, and applications -- than on the character of the student or the style of presentation. Wikipedia (was encyclopedia) and Wikihow (was "How-To books') and YouTube (did we have similar before?) are primarily expository essays. The goal is the transmission of the content information.
A persuasive essay has the goal of changing the student (both thoughts and actions). The focus is mostly on the life-choices of the student. So, knowing student habits, preferences, temperaments, education, ethics, morality, etc. are crucial to success. Ads and commercials and marketing brochures/flyers and vendor documentation of their products are intended to persuade you (to buy their product, change your habit/food/weight, use their computer/software/service, etc.). WyzAnt has forums, blogs, lessons, videos, etc. to persuade students and tutors to work together (with a % fee to WyzAnt). In short -- the goal is lifechange.
Style is the attention-getting aspect -- the slanted "E" in Dell, the very artistic logos, the cute (but have nothing to do with the product) ads, the bright-colored vests of safety/emergency personnel, the piped-in music in stores/offices, the unique little tune when a Windows PC starts. Effective style is unique, memorable, and multisensory (auditory/visual/sensual/...) -- you know, "cute." For either persuasive essay or expository essay, style is often "the icing on the cake."
The author must consider all three, and establish the desired level of balance for the essay.
An expository essay has more focus on the subject matter -- it organization, impact, and applications -- than on the character of the student or the style of presentation. Wikipedia (was encyclopedia) and Wikihow (was "How-To books') and YouTube (did we have similar before?) are primarily expository essays. The goal is the transmission of the content information.
A persuasive essay has the goal of changing the student (both thoughts and actions). The focus is mostly on the life-choices of the student. So, knowing student habits, preferences, temperaments, education, ethics, morality, etc. are crucial to success. Ads and commercials and marketing brochures/flyers and vendor documentation of their products are intended to persuade you (to buy their product, change your habit/food/weight, use their computer/software/service, etc.). WyzAnt has forums, blogs, lessons, videos, etc. to persuade students and tutors to work together (with a % fee to WyzAnt). In short -- the goal is lifechange.
Style is the attention-getting aspect -- the slanted "E" in Dell, the very artistic logos, the cute (but have nothing to do with the product) ads, the bright-colored vests of safety/emergency personnel, the piped-in music in stores/offices, the unique little tune when a Windows PC starts. Effective style is unique, memorable, and multisensory (auditory/visual/sensual/...) -- you know, "cute." For either persuasive essay or expository essay, style is often "the icing on the cake."
Now, I've written a short essay here. Which type do you think it is?
